Setting up your dorm room is one of the most exciting parts of move-in week. It’s tempting to bring along everything that might make your space feel like home. But, with space at a premium, you might regret it. Here are some things you absolutely do not need in your dorm room.
A rice cooker (or anything similar)
A big part of moving into a dorm is understanding the rules and regulations regarding what is and isn’t allowed. While some of the rules may seem silly, all of them are in place to keep you and your community safe.
Anything with a heating device is not needed or allowed inside the dorms. So leave the rice cookers, crock pots and hot plates at home where someone else can use them (safely).
Your entire wardrobe
I get it: College is a new place, and you don’t necessarily know what kind of occasions you will encounter. But with limited space, you have to restrict your closet to what is seasonal, practical and worn most often.
Limiting your wardrobe does not have to be boring. If you go home often, it can be helpful to take clothes you’re tired of, leave them there and bring in new items. If you live farther away, someone from home may be able to send you different pieces.
Sharing clothes and accessories with your new friends also can be a fun way to spice up your closet without taking up too much space.
Every book you own
Similarly, you will not need every book that lives in your personal library. Really, you only need the books for your classes and a few that you know you will read.
With the literary wonderland Square Books right down the road from campus, it is almost inevitable that you will end up collecting way too many books to store in a dorm room. And, if there’s a specific book that you have to read immediately but you’re on a budget, I recommend getting a library card at the Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library.
Incense, wax melters and anything of the sort
No matter how much cleaning the occupant before you did, sometimes dorm rooms smell a little stale, especially if they have been closed for the majority of the summer.
Even though it is tempting, refrain from bringing things like incense sticks and wax melters into your dorm. Things that heat up can pose a major fire hazard around bedsheets and curtains, and they can potentially harm you. (I personally have dropped one too many lit incense sticks on the rug.)
Instead, you can opt for a heatless way to bring good smells to your room. Wallflowers and room sprays are safe and easy ways to brighten up the scent of your room.
Decorations from your bedroom at home
You inevitably will go home for a weekend, holiday or break, and it can be shocking to come back to an empty and unfamiliar room. A few items such as pictures or posters from home will help you feel comfortable in the dorm, but you don’t want to strip your room at home, either.
Use this time to experiment with new styles. Throughout your year in the dorm, you will accumulate posters, decorations and other memorabilia that will mark your time at Ole Miss. Functionality and safety are the most important factors in your new home. If your dorm doesn’t look picture-perfect the first week, don’t sweat it. It will develop personality over this exciting new time.
